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Friday, 27 July 2012

Well folks, I can’t wait any longer to show off this little
box. I’ve had it for quite a while now, and I can’t begin to tell you how much I
wanted to show it to the world- I was near bursting point I tell ye! This was a
surprise from my Pops, which makes it extra special in my eyes... (So there are
some advantages of him working away!)

Doesn’t look much from the outside, does it? Jewellery for
men, eh? So Pops, you’ve been buying vintage cuff links for yourself and
pretending they are a gift for me then? Whoa, hold your horses young Tupeny, I
think you better look inside (That's me talking to myself again!). So look
inside I did, and my oh my- someone fetch the smelling salts. ;) I could hardly
believe my eyes…. A penny spitfire brooch AND a Perspex heart pendant. Not to
mention that it was a New Zealand Perspex pendant too! There was a lot of
oohing going on at this point, with a heavenly choir playing in the background!

This is where Pa buts in to say “Look in the lid my gal…”
which is then accompanied by even more 'oohing' while I marvel at the
inscription…. Quite something isn’t it, she says as she proudly boasts! Sorry,
I don't normally like to blow my own trumpet, but I think this is just the bee’s
knees when it comes to sweetheart jewellery :)

Cute, huh. Shame I
don't know who it belonged to though.

After marvelling at
my little treasures, I decided to have a look under the tissue, and this is what
I found- even Pops didn't know about this!

It's silver too!

I would like to take this opportunity to say how sorry I am
for not keeping to my word last Friday. I was without internet connection for
several days, and by the time it reappeared, well it was late (too bloomin’ late) and
I was a little preoccupied with sorting for the Black Country.
I hope this weeks RAF Friday doesn’t disappoint.

Monday, 23 July 2012

Well Folks, I can now breathe a sigh of relief!My little fashion exhibition for the 1940's evening at the Black Country Living Museum went,
I’m glad to say, without too many hitches (naturally there were a few, but hey,
they could have been worse!).

***

I’ve shown my wares (haha) quite a few times, and I always have a moment
before I arrive when I get all nervy, but for some reason this time, I really
did have the jitters, though weeks before instead. I will quite honestly say
that I was just plain scared, as I felt a tad under qualified to be part of such
a wonderful place! I feel like I’m still in-between roles at the moment- not quite a reenactor,
but a little more than the average member of the public!

In the end it turned out that my fears were unjustified, they were all extremely
lovely and appreciative, and it was to be a lovely laid back event, with the
most wonderful summers evening we have had this... well, soggy summer!
The
Black Country Living Museum also makes the perfect location for this kind of event,
as it really did look like you were back in the 40's (well, if you got rid of
the public it did!). It was a shame that I was tied to my tables for most of
the evening as I haven't been to the museum in about ten years and much has
changed. I did manage to pop out now and then to have a shufty at what
was going on, buy a few bits to add to my collection... got moved on by a policeman
saying "Move along ladies, I know what you are waiting here for..."
or something along those lines, then came back later saying he had half a crown
(wink, wink)! You know, twas the usual evening out!!!

Well anyway that’s enough of my waffle. I say “To the pictures!”

I’m also adding a disclaimer here for the bad quality. The early ones
taken in the light aren’t very good- a little rushed, while the later ones were
taken when it was much quieter, and much darker. You see, there were four light
fittings in the school house, one for each of my fellow exhibitors/ friends,
but it just so happenes that the light bulb over my corner was the one that
didn’t work- bloomin’ typical! And look 'ere, I’m waffling again!

Excuses made…. To the pictures and this time I mean it…..

It's my usual way of showing off the
stuff...."The pile it all in" and the "heaven forbid a piece of
table cloth should show" look. Actually I don't pile it all in, however
much it may look like it- a lot of angst was had whilst trying to decide where to
put everything (I was inwardly panicking!). Also a lot of it stayed in boxes ; (

Matters were made worse by the fact
that I was table-less for quite a bit of our set up time, resulting in Tupney
still putting things out when the public arrived!

I really need to try and compact my exhibition,
just in case I get asked to do another one somewhere,-this one only just fitted in
the car! Still, it's an improvement on the 8 hours it took for me to fill a church once!

Some wedding dresses and Mini Rex in his rather lovely
pinstripe jacket! To the right of him are some utility swimming trunks with the
most moth holes ever seen on a single pair of trunks, aptly named
"Leeknit", though I think it's Lee-knit really!!!

My super new
display cases!

With some Board of
Trade leaflets on "Make do and Mend", homemade jewellery, ration
books...

Whilst the case on
the right holds, make up in wartime packaging, more jewellery and wavers!

One of my favourite
cases!

With some of my most
precious bits in- including both an RAF and Merchant Navy instruction booklet
for "Knitted Comforts"- may I say with their badges too!. A handmade
POW ciggy case with adorable engraving, two RAF sweetheart rings, sweetheart compacts
and brooches, war collection badges and a propaganda hankie.

Notice the lovely suit on the left- How come it fits Miss Busty here and not me anymore eh? I'm going to have to try and compact my shoulders and while I'm at it, shorten my arms too!

Some Kiddies bits.....

I had to strip Edmund of his Shirt
(green), tie, zipper, and cap. Though I drew the line at his shorts, because the
prospect of battling with two detachable legs in such a small space.... well it
wasn’t worth the hassle! Special notes go to the utility Liberty
bodice (bottom left) and the beyond cute, red leather, rabbit fur and sheepskin
lined utility slippers (top left)- please someone make them bigger!

The washing line, with lots of
utility undercrackers- you can't really see them, but I do rather like the
peach bloomers with the elastic at both ends. Tupps says they are...
" comfy and roomy, with the added
bonus of no drafts!".

Also the Smock is made from
Horrockses Utility fabric. It may only be a smock, but it's extremely snappy
and stylish on.

This
darling little lace blouse was a gift, and is annoyingly a tad on the small size.
If I can get the material, then it's one I would love to copy. Also, the gorgeous
Utility Monks shoes on the left are Mammy’s (I could spit as they are too big
for my tootsies!), but the cute utility bar strappy ones fit me fine- yay!

Wednesday, 18 July 2012

*I will probably be running around like a headless chicken for the next few days, so here is the latest Tip Top Tune to keep this Blog ticking over.*

Tickety's Tip Top Tunes﻿

This Tune became Joe’s signature tune in 1938, but is probably more associated with Mr G. Miller nowadays! I'll have to listen to them both again, but I must admit that I can't tell much of a difference. : [

Friday, 13 July 2012

Another acquisition from our mini one day holiday- isn’t it
a cracker (this is where you nod in agreement!).
At first I thought it was a pair of wings displayed
with a separate Perspex pendant beneath, which, truth be told I was less enamoured by the
prospect of, as I already have examples of both (ooo, get her!). So, when the stallholder pulled them out together, imagine how I revelled at
the thought of owning a pair of wings with the Perspex also attached- two for the price of one! Well, there was certainly
none of the usual 'erm, should I, shouldn’t I?' this time!

***

The scarf in the R.A.F colours was also a purchase from the same day, but from a different shop. What can I say, twas obviously my day for picking up Raffy bits! I do wonder about the RAF chap who owned this scarf originally though?

Rather good for a turban, isn't it!﻿

By the way, my title hints at the fact I have more wings- well yes, I deedy do, but that calls for another post. OK, they don't really need another post, but I just haven't got round to snapping them yet! (Oh I can't wait to show you the bits Pops found me!)

***

Also before I forget, every Friday from now and for
evermore (or at least until I have run out of things to show!) will be known as "RAF
Friday" here on TBT. I’d just thought I would tell you, so you can make the
appropriate arrangements to be out or give you the chance to run to the woods!
Don’t think for one mini second that it’s going to be informative (certainly
not!), it’s just another chance for me to document more of my precious tat.
Well, it’s always best to have a set task rather than to go around my room
photographing everything willy-nilly, isn’t it!!!

Monday, 9 July 2012

I’ve finally got round to taking some snaps of my latest and
TOTALLY finished woolly wonder (Only about 8 unfinished projects left!). This is
probably the woolly that I have most enjoyed knitting this year… well, so far
anyway. I’m not sure why, but for some odd reason I felt at peace with it- Strange
eh! Ok, I grant you, there were times when I had my moments (don’t we all), but
on the whole I can safely say that it went without a hitch.

I was quite sure on the pattern I use and was
equally steadfast about the wool I
wanted to use too, so maybe that helped in the fact that I wasn’t constantly
doubting myself and my choice of pattern (unfortunately I’m in the habit of
doing this). So all in all it was a happy knit and I’m now one happy big knit!

So how did my cardigan turn out?

Well here it is- looking terrible against the backdrop as I couldn't find my less in your face curtains! (eek- pink and orange)

It also doesn't look as neat on me like it is on the mannequin, but that could just be me of course,
also it could be the fact that we mere mortals are never, ever going to look
anything like those glorious beauties (naturally I'm speaking for myself here as I know such people do still exist)!!!

***

Knitted from the exceedingly lovely wartime pattern shown at the top of the page^

I also used up this Raspberry coloured wool from my ever
expanding stash.

here's the smug shot!

Here’s the demure one …

and the close up with my sweet peas (oh they smell so perdy!)

... the buttons...

and the back!

and the last!

That's it for now folks. I have another jumper to show, but I need to do a bit of diddling before that one hits this blog!

Wednesday, 4 July 2012

I can’t quite remember exactly what my Pa said when I was innocently looking through one of my recipe books in the kitchen, but it was to the same effect as an ‘uh oh’, and a silent exclaim of ‘what on earth is she going to poison us with now?!!!’.

Well Pops I’ll tell you what I’m going to make- its Coffee bullets….. Ahem, I mean buns!

They are quite tasty- (perhaps a little sweet?) and are quick and easy to make.

I am unable to find a date on the ‘Woman and Home cookery book’, but the recipes still call for dried egg, tell of milk shortages and mention whale meat! So I would put it at wartime to the just post war years.

Because I am useless, and the fact that I baked them alooooong time ago
(only now deciding to post!), I have totally forgotten what oven temperature
I used and actually how long I baked them for- too long by the look of the
picture! What can I say? Tupney and the kitchen just don't mix. (Well, I lie to
a point as I can make a rather nice carrot soup and bake extremely yummy cheese straws!) Anyway, I would imagine it would have been at around 200°c in a modern fan
oven, but if you decide to try these I would advise you to use your own better
judgement on timings and temperature!